Mobile Biometric Application RFI 01302025 Question Responses.pdf

Questions Received from Vendors Regarding RFI 01302025 - Mobile Biometric Application

Question #1: Which CrossMatch Guardian model(s) should be supported?

• Answer: All Appendix F certified devices should be supported.

Question #2: Which 3M Cogent fingerprint scanner model(s) should be supported?

• Answer: All Appendix F certified devices should be supported.

Question #3: Is the purpose of this RFI to make incremental changes to an existing FBI mobile biometric capability, or does the FBI require a new, low-cost mobile biometric capability that provides capabilities that existing software can never satisfy?

• Answer: A current contract is in place that is scheduled to end in the future. The FBI is exploring what mobile biometric capabilities are available.

Question #4: Does the FBI desire the capability of Android devices submit directly to an ABIS, without requiring intermediary “store and forward” devices?

• Answer: Yes. The submissions will submit directly or store the collection until cell service or Wi-Fi service is available.

Question #5: If the FBI truly requires stationary capture and submission of biometric information, will the FBI consider stationary Android devices (with keyboard and other peripherals) to meet these requirements? This would ensure 100% uniformity of the software among all biometric capture devices.

• Answer: RFI outlined utilizing existing hardware of Android and Windows platforms, so the Windows needs to be included.

Question #6: In general, are the software O/S requirements in this RFI strict, or is the FBI open to considering trade-offs related to technical, performance, cost, and biometric hardware compatibility?

• Answer: Yes, they are strict.

Question #7: Which TOTs do your current system submit?

• Answer: The solution needs to be able to submit all Electronic Biometric Transmission

Specification (EBTS) Types of Transactions (TOTs).

Question #8: For purposes of this RFI, may respondents assume use of the EBTS Version 11.2

Final Update dated February 10, 2025?

• Answer: Yes

Question #9: Since images may be captured at greater than 500 pixels per inch: if the images are captured at 1000 pixels per inch, is JPEG 2000 compression required in accordance with ABIS requirements?

• Answer: Yes, 1000 ppi prints must be compressed using JPEG 2000

Question #10: Since the software must support “international locations” (per page 2 of the RFI), does the FBI desire “always on” continuous license synchronization to support authorized use of the software?

• Answer: The expectation is “always on” unless the FBI turns it off or there is no signal.

Question #11: Please confirm that NFIQ is only required for known fingerprints, and not for latent prints or palm prints

• Answer: Our desire to have automated image quality assessment applies to fingerprint capture of live subjects.

Question #12: Will a significant number of smartphones capture irises?

• Answer: The solution will use devices plugged into the cell phone or computer’s USB port to capture irises, not the phone itself.

Question #13: Will a significant number of smartphones capture palm prints?

• Answer: The solution will use devices plugged into the cell phone or computer’s USB port to capture palm prints.

Question #14: One of the statements on page 3 reads, “The software must have the ability to modify collection order of the fingerprints in the field.” However, page 4 states, “The software must have the capability for the FBI to be able to control all configuration settings for every user account remotely utilizing configuration files accessed and implemented by the web server.”

• Please confirm that settings such as collection order must be configurable BOTH centrally AND in the field.

o Answer: The FBI must be able to control all configuration settings for every user account in a central location (Program Office).

Question #15: Does the FBI have a need to capture or import latent print images on devices other than Android mobile devices?

• Answer: No. Latent prints will only be captured via a smartphone’s camera.

Question #16: Page 5 requires “the capability of scanning the RFID or barcode of the DNA buccal swab using the devices camera,” a capability that is often associated with stationary livescans.

• If the transaction originates at a Windows device or other stationary device, how does the

FBI desire to read the RFID tag or capture the barcode?

o Answer: The FBI desires to use a bar code scanner attached to a Windows device.

• Will a significant number of smartphones capture DNA information?

o Answer: The solution must allow use of the smartphone’s camera to scan the bar code of the DNA swab and populate the bar code information in the submission.

Question #17: Regarding “the capability to scan a fingerprint card”: Are all scanned fingerprint cards in an FBI compatible format?

• Answer: The category of Fingerprint Card Scan Systems can be chosen on the FBI

Certified Products List page (https://fbibiospecs.fbi.gov/certifications-1/cpl). This will provide a listing of FBI Certified fingerprint card scanners. The Vendor appearing in the

“Firm” field has paired their algorithm with the hardware item listed under “Product &

Description.” This combination of hardware and software will produce images that meet

FBI image quality. All submissions must meet requirements in the latest FBI EBTS version https://fbibiospecs.fbi.gov/ebts-1/approved-ebts (currently 11.2).

Question #18: One of the statements on page 5 reads, “The software must have the capability to pre-load “watch lists” to devices for onboard matching regardless of connectivity for transmission over cellular network.”

• Do these watch lists need to support all biometric modalities (friction ridge, face, iris)?

o Answer: Currently it would be friction ridge with the possibility of future searches of face and iris.

• What is the anticipated maximum number of subjects in the watch list?

o Answer: Unknown, would depend on situational use.

Question #19: Regarding “the capability to import/export EBTS files”:

• Does the FBI desire the capability to support NIST formats from other agencies, such as

DOD and DHS?

o Answer: All submissions must meet requirements in the latest FBI EBTS version https://fbibiospecs.fbi.gov/ebts-1/approved-ebts (currently 11.2).

Question #20: One of the questions asks, “Is the software currently listed on the FBI’s Certified

Products List?”

• Please remove this question or clarify the meaning of this question, since the CPL listing is for the configuration of hardware and software together to produce the necessary image quality.

o Answer: The FBI maintains a Certified Products List (CPL) that lists the hardware and associated software which together are used for capturing biometric and biographic data, specifically for Next Generation Identification (NGI) image quality specifications (IQS).

Question #21: Regarding support of “IB Mannix”: As of March 2025, which other Integrated

Biometrics scanners require support?

• Answer: Ability to support all models listed on the FBI certified device list.

https://fbibiospecs.fbi.gov/certifications-1/cpl https://fbibiospecs.fbi.gov/ebts-1/approved-ebts https://fbibiospecs.fbi.gov/ebts-1/approved-ebts

Question #22: Regarding support of “Cross Match Guardian”: As of March 2025, which specific HID scanners require support?

• Answer: Ability to support all models listed on the FBI certified device list.

Question #23: Regarding support of a “3M Cogent fingerprint scanner”:

• Is the requirement actually for “Thales Cogent” scanners, or does the FBI require compatibility with legacy 3M Cogent scanners?

o Answer: Ability to support all models listed on the FBI certified device list.

• As of March 2025, which specific Thales Cogent multi-finger or single finger scanners require support?

o Answer: Ability to support all models listed on the FBI certified device list.

Question #24: Does the FBI only desire support of the IrisID iCAM TD100A, or is support of earlier models also necessary?

• Answer: The FBI does not stipulate a specific iris camera to be used, however the camera should be designed to capture irises per FBI specifications.

Question #25: Does the FBI only desire support of the IrisID iCAM T10, or is support of earlier models also necessary?

• Answer: The FBI does not stipulate a specific iris camera to be used, however the camera should be designed to capture irises per FBI specifications.

Question #26: Regarding IriTech support: Does the FBI only desire support of binocular capture, or is monocular capture also necessary?

• Answer: Binocular only.

Question #27: Regarding the request for “licensing/subscription models with pricing structure”:

• Approximately how many software licenses does the FBI desire to support?

o Answer: The FBI would like for the vendor community to describe their license structure and options.

• Alternatively, what is the FBI’s anticipated budget for this capability (which may govern the number of software licenses the FBI can purchase)?

o Answer: Undetermined